This film has been chosen to open the festival as it heralds a new style in visual anthropology and documentary. Over the summer of 1960 Jean Rouch turned the camera on his own city, his own community, to document the lives of Parisians – at work and at play. The extracts we have chosen are of an African student as he “ethno–thinks” his way from the beaches of St Tropez to a Parisian dinner party – surrounded by friends and associates. Here too is Rouch who works through his concept of Cinéma Vérité – a format of “in the moment” documentary where the filmmaker too participates in the cultural activities (like the anthropological participant observation). In a sense, both student protagonist and seasoned anthropological filmmaker have taken a journey to France – to document, to intervene and to exchange in a new ethnographic understanding.

The free UCL Urban Migration Film Festival will take place at University College London on February 15th from 09:30-17:00, although you are welcome to simply drop in to any of the sessions.